Product spacing structure



w. F. PRENA v 73,537,229

7 PRODUCT SPACING STRUCTURE Filed Nov, 29, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UnitedStates Patent 3,537,229 PRODUCT SPACING STRUCTURE William F. Prena,Norridge, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to John Morrell & Co.,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 29, 1967, Ser. No.686,436 Int. Cl. B65b 31/00 US. Cl. 53-112 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A pocket structure for a vacuum packaging machine wherein aproduct spacing, compartment dividing means is removably mounted in thepocket, with product holding means being formed integrally with theproduct spacing means. An elongate notch is provided in the productspacing means, so that packages that are joined in a double lineoperation can be severed while in the pocket structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the vacuumpackaging art; and more particularly to a vacuum packaging machinewherein a plurality of molding pockets are moved by a conveyor to a filmdrawing station where a lower layer of heated film is drawn into thepocket structure, then to a product loading station where a product isplaced in the pocket structure upon the lower layer of film, and then toa sealing station where an upper layer of film is sealed to the lowerlayer of ifilm, while the interior of the package is evacuated. In asingle line vacuum packaging operation, wherein a single package ismolded in each pocket, the packets have in the past usually merelyincluded a bottom wall, with continuous wall means extending around thesides and ends of the bottom wall. In a double line vacuum packagingoperation, wherein two packages are molded in each pocket, it has beenconventional in the past to provide the pocket structure with anintegral, non-removable divider wall. It will be appreciated that withsuch an arrangement, if it is desired to convert from a single linevacuum packaging operation to a double vacuum packaging operation, orvice versa, it is necessary to remove and replace all of the pocketstructures, and this has obviously required a lengthy shutdown of themachine. In the recent past, it has been proposed to obviate the timeconsuming conversion process by making the divider wall within thepocket structure removable, so that a single set of pockets can be usedfor both single line and double line operations. While this simpleexpedient has been successful in certain respects, it has also beenunsuccessful in certain other respects, as for example when it isnecessary or desirable to place a molding insert in one of thecompartments of the pocket structure, as is necessary for certain shapedproducts. A further drawback of present day removable double linedividers is that, heretofore, it has not been possible to sever thejoined packages made in a single pocket directly upon the vacuumpackaging machine, and it has been necessary to transport the two joinedpackages to a further apparatus where the severing is effected.

SUMMARY The present invention provides a novel arrangement wherein themolding pockets are not only usable in both single line and double linepackaging operations by virtue of the inclusion of a removable productspacing divider wall means, but the divider wall means also has productinsert members formed integrally therewith to define a unitary assembly.The product insert portion of the product spacing assembly is shaped tocorrespond with the particular product being packaged, and thus theversatility of the vacuum packaging machine can be materially increasedby merely having a plurality of sets of product spacing members having avariety of differently shaped inserts formed integrally therewith. Theproduct spacing assembly of the present invention is readily removablefrom the pocket structure, and is releasably retained within the pocketstructure by means of cooperating elements on the bottom wall of thepocket structure and the product insert portions of the product spacingassembly. The pocket structure of the present invention further includesa novel arrangement allowing a pair of adjacent packages formed in adouble line operation to be slit directly upon the conveyor of thevacuum packaging machine itself, thus obviating the necessity oftransporting the joined packages to a further severing station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a firstembodiment of the invention, with a portion of the product spacing walland product holding insert being broken away for clarity ofillustration;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken generally along line 22 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 2, and illustrating amodified form of product holding insert assembly;

FIG. 4 is a top plan vie-w similar to FIG. 1, and illustrating amodified pocket structure with a further embodiment of the productspacing assembly and holding means therein;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken generally along line 55 of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged side elevational view illustrating thenovel structural arrangement allowing joined packages to be severeddirectly upon a vacuum packaging machine;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure illustrated in FIG.6, except that the product spacing assembly has been removed;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational View similar to FIG. 6, andillustrating the use of an insert member during a single line operation;and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the insert member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT While this invention issusceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in thedrawings and will herein be described in detail an embodiment of theinvention together with modifications thereof with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification ofthe principles of the inembodiments illustrated. The scope of theinvention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The pocket structure is indicated generally at 10 in FIGS. 1-5, and isan upwardly open cup-like member including a generally rectangularlyshaped bottom wall 11; a continuous wall means formed by parallel sidewalls 12 extending generally perpendicular with respect to bottom wall11, and spaced parallel end walls 13 extending generally perpendicularlywith respect to bottom wall 11. A vertical opening 13a is provided ineach end wall 13 for reception of a vertically movable film edgeclamping member, not shown, which can take the form of those illustratedin Myers application, Ser. No. 516,559, filed Dec. 27, 1965, now Pat.No. 3,397,507, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.Compressible means is provided on the upper surface of the pocket Wallmeans, and said means includes narrow elongate rubber strips 14 on theupper surface of side walls 12, and spaced, parallel narrow elongaterubber strips 15 and 16 on the upper strips 14-16 cooperates withfurther compressible means on the product spacing insert members to behereafter described toallow a seal around the compartments formed withinthe interior of the pocket structure to be created, when engaged with asealing head, such as that shown in the above mentioned Myersapplication.

A downwardly extending centrally located projection 17 extendstransversely across the pocket structure on the lower surface of bottomwall 11, with a central openning 18 being provided in projection 17.Outwardly inclined passages 19 communicate with opening 18 and withchambers in the pocket structure on opposite sides of a divider wall tobe hereafter described. Projection 17 is adapted to be engaged by ameans for applying a vacuum to the pocket structure, so that a layer offilm may be drawn into the pocket structure to form the lower portion ofa package. A rib 20 is provided on the upper surface of bottom wall 11midway between end walls 13, and extends transversely across the pocketstructure between the side walls 12. A pair of spaced parallel ribs 21extend laterally outwardly from the central rib 20, and are adapted tosupport the product spacing inserts, as will hereinafter appear. As willbe apparent to those skilled in the art, ribs 21 assist in spreading thevacuum applied to the pocket structure through opening 18, so that thelower layer of film will be drawn into the pocket structure with auniform force.

The bottom wall 11 of the pocket structure includes means for releasablyretaining the product spacing and holding uneans therein, and to thisend, bosses 23 extend downwardly from the lower surface of the bottomwall 11, on opposite sides of projection 17, with bores 24 in the bossesopening to the interior of the pocket structure. Spring clip members 25are mounted in threaded openings in bores 24 and extend approximately tothe level of the upper surface of the bottom wall 11. Spring clipmembers 25 cooperate with means to be hereafter described on the productinsert portions of the product spacing structure to releasably retainthe same within the pocket structure 10.

A first form of product spacing and product holding means is illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 2, and includes an upright wall 26 that extendsperpendicularly between the side walls 12 of the pocket structure. Ascan be seen in FIG. 2, the lower end of wall 26 rests upon transverserib 20 and divides the chamber within the pocket structure into twocompartments of equal size. Compressible means, in the form of a rubberstrip 27, is provided upon the upper surface of wall 26, so that whenthe sealing head referred to above is brought into engagement with theupper end of the pocket structure 10, a vacuum can be applied to the twocompartments on opposite sides of wall 26. Product holding means 28 isformed integrally with wall 26, and in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2,

.one such means extends outwardly from each side of wall 26. Eachproduct holding means is in the form of a tray-shaped plate having aflat horizontal portion 29, a downwardly bent flange 30 secured to wall26 by screws 31 or the like, an upwardly extending portion 32, and ahorizontal portion 33 extending outwardly from the upper end-of portion32 toward pocket wall 13.

A U-shaped bracket 34 is secured to the undersurface of each horizontalportion 29, as by spot welding or the like, and brackets 34 each includea horizontally disposed portion 35 that rests upon ribs 21, uprightportions 36 extending upwardly from opposite ends of horizontal portion33, and horizontal portions '37 that extend outwardly .from uprightportions 36 and which are secured to the horizontal portions 29 of theproduct holding means. A detent ball 37a is carried by the horizontalportion 35 of each bracket 34,- and is releasably engageable with thespring clip 25 to positively, yet removably, mount the product spacingand holding means within the pocket structure 10.

From the above, it will be apparent that when the product holding means28 is removed from the pocket structure 10, the pocket structure issuitable for use in a single line operation. When the product holdingmeans 28 is positioned in the pocket structure 10, the pocket structureis capable of use in a double line operation. In

. both the single line and double line operations, a lower 7 operation,each product holding means 28 forms a mold that is shaped suitably toconform to the particular product being packaged, it being understoodthat the lower layer of film being applied to the pocket structure willassume the general shape of the particular product holding means 28.While the illustrated product holding means 28 forms a generallyrectangularly shaped mold, it will be obvious that other configurationsmay be used, as desired.

During certain single line operations, it is also desirable to useproduct insert means, and an illustrative form is indicated generally at38 in FIG. 3. Product holding means 38 includes a horizontally disposedupper portion 39 that extends between end walls 13, when the productholding means 38 is placed within the pocket structure 10. Generallyvertically disposed portions 40 extend downwardly from the outer ends ofhorizontal portion 39, and horizontally disposed portions 41 extendinwardly toward one another from the lower end of each downwardlyextending portion 40. Detent balls 41 extend downwardly from the centerof each horizontal portion 41 of the product holding insert 38, and theballs 42 are engaged with the spring clips 25 to releasably mount theproduct holding insert 38 and the pocket structure 10. A generally U-shaped brace 43 extends transversely of horizontal portion 39, and brace43 includes a horizontal portion 44 that rests upon the transverse rib20 in the pocket structure 10. Brace 43 further includes spaced uprights45 extending upwardly from opposite sides of central portion 44, andhorizontal portions 46, which extend laterally outwardly from the upperend of each upright portion 45.

It will be well understood to those skilled in the art that after theproduct being packaged is placed within the product holding molds, uponthe lower layer of film, in either a single line or double lineoperation, the product structure 10 then moves to a final sealingstation where an upper layer of film is applied to the lower layer offilm to complete the package or packages. At the final sealing station,a sealing head moves into engagement with the upper layer of film topress the same against the lower layer of film in the area of the rubberstrip 14-16 so that a substantially sealed condition is created withinthe pocket structure. A suitable final sealing head is disclosed in theabove mentioned Myers application, and such a head leaves a smallunsealed portion adjacent each end wall 13 of the pocket structure, sothat the interior of the formed packages can be evacuated. The sealinghead also includes final sealing means for closing the small unsealedportion, after the desired degree of evacuation of the packages isachieved.

A further form of product holding means adapted for vuse in a doubleline operation is indicated generally at 47 in FIG. 4, and productholding means 47 includes a central vertically disposed divider wall 48.A rubber strip 49 is provided on the upper surface of divider wall 48,and extends from end to end thereof. As is clear from FIG. 4, theproduct holding means 47 is adapted to hold a circular product, and tothis end, the product holding means includes circular horizontalportions 50 on opposite sides of divider wall 48. A detent ball 51extends downwardly from the lower surface of each portion 50, andcooperates with a spring clip 25 to releasably retain the productholding means in the pocket 10. A cylindrical wall 52 extends upwardlyfrom the outer periphery of each horizontal portion 50, and a horizontalupper wall portion 53 extends outwardly from the upper end of eachcylindrical wall 52. Ribs 54 extend generally radially outwardly ofcylindrical wall 52, and downwardly from each horizontal wall 53. Theribs 54 adjacent the divider Wall 48 include foot portions 56 that aresecured to the divider wall 48 by screws 55.

While the pocket structure 10 illustrated in FIGS. 4-9 is substantiallyidentical to that illustrated in FIGS. 13, it differs therefrom in thatit includes means allowing the two packages formed in a double lineoperation to be severed directly upon the conveyor of the vacuumpackaging machine. To this end, an upwardly facing rectangular notch 57is provided in each side wall 12 of the pocket structure 10 in alignmentwith the divider wall 48. A generally U-shaped recess 58 (FIG. 6) isprovided in the outer surface of each side wall 12 adjacent notch 57.Divider wall 48 includes rectangular extensions 59 of reduced width ateach end, which are seated in the notches 57, when the product holdingmeans 47 is placed in the pocket structure 10. As is evident from FIG.4, the outer ends 49a of rubber strip 49 are also reduced in width so asto be substantially coextensive with the extensions 59. An upwardlyopening central slot 60 is provided in the upper end of wall 48, andslot 60 extends from end to end of wall 48, including extensions 59.From the above, it will be apparent that a package severing means, suchas a knife having a blade member with a thickness slightly less than thewidth of slot 60, can be mounted at a suitable place on the vacuumpackaging machine, such as on the sealing head, to sever the two joinedpackages as they move with the conveyor past the severing means.

When the pocket illustrated in FIG. 4 is utilized in a single lineoperation, inserts 61 (FIGS. 8 and 9) are inserted in notches 57; andinserts 61 are formed of a compressible material, such as rubber, sothat an effective seal can be created around the periphery of thepackages during the final sealing operations. As can be best seen inFIG. 9, inserts 61 include a generally rectangular central portion 62having a size substantially the same as notches 57, so as to disposedthe upper surface of the insert 61 in substantially the same plane asthe rubber strips 14 upon the sides 12 of the pocket structure. Inserts61 further include generally U-shaped flanges 63 at opposite sides ofcentral portion 62, and as is evident from FIG. 8, flanges 63 have asize which corresponds to the size of recesses 58.

I claim:

1. A pocket structure for use in a vacuum packaging machine comprising:a bottom wall having an opening therein through which a vacuum can beapplied; continuous wall means extending upwardly from said bottom wallincluding a pair of spaced parallel walls at opposite sides of saidbottom wall and cooperating therewith to define a chamber; productspacing means mounted in said chamber for dividing said chamber intoplural separate product receiving compartments, said product spacingmeans including an upright central divider wall extending generallytransversely of said side walls and plural product holding meansattached thereto, with one such product holding means being positionedin each compartment; means for releasably retaining said product spacingmeans in said chambers; compressible means on the upper end of said wallmeans and said central wall, whereby the top of said chamber and/or saidcompartments can be sealed; and aligned notches in the upper end of eachside wall, with said divider wall having an extension at each endthereof seated in one of said notches.

2. A pocket structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein an elongate grooveis provided in the upper surface of said divider wall and extensions.

3. A pocket structure for use in a vacuum packaging machine comprising:a bottom wall; a pair of end walls extending upwardly from opposite endsof said bottom wall; a pair of side walls extending upwardly fromopposite sides of said bottom wall, each side wall spanning the extentbetween said end walls and cooperating with said end walls to define acontinuous wall means; means defining a notch in each of said sidewalls, said notches being in alignment with one another; compressiblemeans on the upper end of said end walls and side walls; and a removableinsert in each of said notches, said inserts being formed of acompressible material.

4. A pocket structure as set forth in claim 2 including a pair ofremovable inserts of compressible material positionable one in each ofsaid notches to form a continuous pocket perimeter when said productspacing means with the central divider wall is not used.

5. A pocket structure as defined in claim 3 including a divider wallpositionable between said side walls and having an extension at each endthereof positionable in said side wall notches upon removal of saidinserts, and compressible material on the top of said divider wall whichlies coplanar with the compressible means on said end and side walls.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,708,304 4/ 1929 Elliott 2491313,343,332 9/1967 Mahafiy et a1. 53-112 X 3,353,218 11/1967 Cloud et a1.53184 X TRAVIS S. McGEHEE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

